ACR+ is an international network of cities and regions sharing the aim of promoting sustainable resource management and accelerating the transition towards a circular economy on their territories and beyond. Providing a platform for cooperation between diverse actors, ACR+ is open to other key players in the field of material resource management such as NGOS, academic institutions, consultancy or private organisations, but with a clear orientation on public authorities' needs and actions.
In the framework of the INTHERWASTE project, ACR+ acts as advisory partner and coordinates the communications tasks. This involves, notably, supporting partners for the technical aspects, finding good practices, helping with the drafting of the action plans, and providing expertise in general.
ACR+ is a source of expertise and support for local authorities with the development of inspiring strategies for their territories to support the transition to a circular economy through projects such as the Circular Europe Network (a database gathering around 180 factsheets on circular economy strategies and actions, as well as guidelines on circular economy planning). ACR+ also publish on a regular basis some technical reports, for instance on Operational Circular Economy Criteria for SMEs or a Comparison of municipal waste management in EU cities.
By promoting cooperation and dialogue between a broad range of stakeholders, ACR+ also seeks to foster more sustainable behaviour from private and public sectors as well as from citizens and consumers, notably through economic and legal instruments. The EPR club is a key initiative in this regard, providing a space for sharing of knowledge and practices and for discussion among key actors.
ACR+ also acts as the secretariat for the annual European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR), the biggest Europe-wide initiative promoting the implementation of awareness-raising actions about sustainable resource and waste management. It encourages a wide range of audiences (public authorities, private companies, schools, civil society as well as citizens themselves) to get involved by organising actions. Registration of actions for this year’s edition (taking place from the 17th until the 25th of November) is open until November 9th, 2018.
INTHERWASTE is one of several projects through which ACR+ focuses on sustainable tourism, along with BLUEISLANDS and URBAN-WASTE. These three projects have collaborated on a Charter of Commitments for Sustainable Resource Management and Circular Economy in touristic areas, an initiative that brings together European cities, regions, and islands which are famous tourist destinations and displays their interest and commitment in making tourism activities more sustainable with a focus on waste management. The signing ceremony is due to take place in Lisbon on 27 November.
More information: www.acrplus.org
Previous "Meet the INTHERWASTE partners":
• Tallinn Municipality
• Sanitation Cordoba (Sadeco)
• Municipality of Porto
• Municipality of Ibiza
• Municipality of Krakow
